Bottle-capping machine.



R. V. CRAGGS.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1909. RBNEWED-JAN.9,1912.

B.. V. CRAGGS.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29, 1909. RENEWED JAN. 9, 1912.

v Patented June 18, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

j? am Vffajf afm/w J/OMd fm Ross v. cEAGcs, on BALTIMORE,

j MARYLAND, AssIGNoa, To TIIE NATIONAL EXCHANGE BANK or BALTIMORE, LANL.

Specication of Letters Patent.

BYIIEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, A conponATIoN oE Naar- .BOTTLE-CAPPIN G MACHINE.

' Patented J une le, i912.

Appicationled September 29, 1909, Serial No. 520,087. Renewed January 9, 1912. Serial No. 670,132.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross V. CRAGGS, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Baltimore, in thc State of Maryland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Bottle-Capping Machines, of which the following is a specification.-

This invention relates to a fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine and the lobject thereof is to provide a machine of such class in a manner asl hereinafter set forth and claimed whereby the capping of bottles with what is termed a metallic cap and seal will be efficiently had with the liability of breakage of the bottleneck reduced to a minimum.

A further object of the invention is t0 provide a machine of the class referred to in a manner as hereinafter set forth and claimed which is adapted for use in connection with' bottles of varying heights without the employment of vertical adjustable supports for the bottles to properly position them with respect to the capping elements of the machine and furthermore embodying means constituting automatically adjustable independent cap crimping element-s to conform to varying diameters of bottle necks.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with means in a manner as hereinafter set forth and claimed, whereby the capping elements of the machine will be automatically returned to inoperative position after the cap has been crimped upon the bottle neck.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of such class with means in a manner as hereinafter set forth whereby the capping elements duringtheir movement toward and from operative position will be cushioned to overcome any liability of breakage of the bottle neck due to a quick stroke when the elements are moved to capping position and to overcome any liability of injury to the capping elements due to quick return stroke. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of the class referred to with means in a manner as hereinafter set forth and claimed to constitute a cap-retaining elementvwhereby the cap will be securely held upon the bottle neck to prevent any possibility of bulging during the crimping operation and to further constitute means for operating vthe crimping element for the cap to xedly secure the cap to the bottle nec subsequent to the operation of the retaining means.

Further objects of the invention are t0 provide a fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, efcient in its use, readily set up, reducing the liability of breakage of bottle necks to a minimum, and compara-4 tively inexpensive to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the inventlon consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of arts as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a duid pressure whichV shall be comparatively operated bottle capping machine in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the machine takenv atright angles to that shown in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a section on line X-X of Fig. 3 looking inthe direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 isa sectional detail illustrating the two-way valve, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the machine.

As shown in Fig. 6 the machine is supported upon an upright l carrying a block 2 which is fixedly secured to the machine and is also provided with a bottle-centering member 2a. The lower end of the upright 1 is connected to a base Scarrying a gui-de 4 for position#` ing the bottle 5 in the path of the crimping element. The foregoing manner of supporting the machine is illustrated by way of example as it is obvious that any suitable means for supporting the machine as well as positioning the bottle can be employed.

The machine comprises a cylinder 6 hav ing an outwardly extending annular flange at its upper and at its lower end, said flanges being indicated by the reference characters 7 and 8. vThe flange 8 is formed with a` screw-threaded nipple 9 which communicates with the interior of the cylinder 6 by the port 10a. Mounted against the flange 8 is a closure head 10 for the lower end of the cylinder 6 and which is recessed as at 11 to provide a pocket 11. The head 1() has depending therefrom a packing box 12 which is ianged as at 13 and extendingin the box 12 is a packing land 14 anged as at 15 which opposes Athe ange 13 and is adjustabl secured tothe flan e 13 by the .bolts 16. ithinthe packing ox 12 is arranged a packing 17. The head 10 is connected to the flange 8 through ythe medium of the holdfastdevices 18 and said'head 10 is formed on its upper face with a cylindrical off-set 19 which extends into the cylinder 6 ancL engages the inner face of said cylinder.

Mounted upon the flange 7 is a head 2O for closing the upper end of the'cylinder 6 and the said head 20. has its lower face formed with a cylindrical oil-set 21 which extends into the cylinde` 6 and snugl engages the inner face of the said cylin er 6.

The head 20 is connected to the iange 7 by the hold-fast devices 22 and is provided with a pocket 23, with a port 24 which communicates with the interior` of the cylinder and is arranged at one`side of the pocket 23 and furthermore with a port 24a which communicates with the interior ofthe cylinder 6 and is arranged atone side of the pocket 23. The head 2O is also formed with a screw-threaded recess 25 having the inner portion of itswall beveled as at 26, 35 said recess 25 communicating withthe port 24a. s y

Mounted upon and secured to the head 20 is a plate 27r provided with an upright 28 carrying an integral valve casing 29 which is closed at one end by a cap 30 and provided with an outlet port 31. Communicating with the valve casing 29 isa motive iuid supply-pipe 32 and alsocommunicating with the valve casing 29 is a motive fluid conducting pipe 33,'the latter leading to an L 34 which is connected to the nipple 9. The valve casing 29 is provided with a port 35 which opens into the conducting pipe 33 and is also provided with a nipple 36 which opens into the motive fluid sup/ply pipe 32. The upright 28 is formed with a passage 37 which opens at one end into the interior of the valve casing 29 and at its other end opens into the port 24.

Arranged within the valve casing 29 isa two-way valve 38, the passages therein being indicated by the reference characters 39 and 40. The valve 38 is formed with a stem 41 which projects from that end of the casing 29 whichis not provided with the cap 30 and mounted upon the projecting end-of thev stem 41 is a holding lever 42 provided with a nose 43 and a handle 43a. Interposed between the lever 42 and the casing 29 and 65 surrounding the stem 41 is an actuating spring 44 for automatically shifting the `valve in one direction when the lever is released in a manner to bev hereinafter referred to. One end of the spring 44' is fixed to the valve stem 41 and at its other end 70 to the upright 28 as at 45.l The pipe 32 is provided with a regulating supply valve 46, vltieeby the pressure supplied can vbe regu- Thepassage 39 ofthe valve 38 is termed the exhaust passage for the motive fluid and the passage 40 is termed the supply passage for the motive fluid and in this connection itwill be stated that the passage 40 is adapted to alternately establish communication between the conducting pipe 33 and' the supply pipe 32 and between the passage 37 and supply pipe 32 and the passage 39 is adapted to alternately establish communication between the conducting pipe 33 and outlet 31 and between the passa e 37 and outlet 31. The normal position o the valve 38 is such that the passage 40 will establish communication between the supply pipe 32 and the passage 37 and the passage- 39 of the valve 38 will establish communication between the conduct-ing pipe 33 and the outlet 31.

Arranged within and projecting from the cylinder 6 is an inner and an outer piston, the outer piston being indicated by the reference character 47 and the inner piston by the reference character 48. The piston 47 has operating therethrough the piston 48 and the piston 47 extends through an bpening 49 formed in the head 10 and also extends through the packing box 12 and gland 14. The piston 48 snugly fits' the piston 47 but the iit lis such as not to interfere with the movement of the pistonv 48. The piston 47 at its upper end is cup-shaped as at 50 and is of such a diameter as to snugly engage the inner face of the cylinder 6, the cup-shaped portion being provided with peripheral packing rings 51 and further having an extension 52 adapted to engage in the pocket 11 on the downward movement of the piston 47. The inner face of the cupshaped portion 50 of the piston 47 lis shouldered as at 53 for a Afunction to be herein- 115 after referred to. The upper edge of the cup-shaped portion 50 of the piston 47 constitutes a pressure impacting surface and which .is indicated by the reference character 54. The upper portion of the piston 120 48 is formed of two different diameters, the larger being indicated by the reference character 55 and the smaller by the r ference character 56, that portion of large iameter is arranged within the cup-shaped portion 1'25 50 of the piston 47 and is adapted to engage the shoulder 53 so that on the downward movement of the piston 48, it will carry the pistonl 47 therewith. That portion of smaller diameter 56 of the piston 48 extends 13;1

waaier upward movement of the said piston `48.

r1`he top edge of that portion 55 oflarger diameter of the piston 48 constitutes a pressure impact-ing surface and which is indi# cated by the reference character 57. rlhe shoulder 53 on the upward movement of the piston 57 is adapted to engage the lower face 58 of the portion` 55 of the piston 48`so as to shift the said piston 48 `upwardly on the upward movement of the piston 47. The portions 59 and 60 of the lower face of the cupshaped upper. end 50 of the piston 47 constitute pressure impacting surfaces whereby the piston 47 Iis shiftedI upwardly when motive iiuid is supplied tothe lower en`d of the cylinder 6. The disposition of the piston 47 with respect to the piston 48 is such that the piston 48 will move downwardly slightly in advance ofthe piston 47 and when the shoulder 53 is engaged by the piston 48, the twopistons move together.

The piston 48 is what-may be termed a cap holding piston and the piston-47 is what may be termed a crimping die operating piston for the reason that the function of the piston 48 is to cause the holding down of the cap tightly on the bottle neck so as to prevent any possibility of the bulging of the cap during the crimping operation and the `function of the piston 47 is to engage the crimping die to actuate it whereby the cap will be xedly secured to the neck of the, bottle. The operation of crimping through the medium ofthe piston 47 is subsequent to the holding down of the cap upon the bottle neck. The piston 48 carries on its lower end a cap holding member which consists of a shank 61 extending in the lower end of the piston 48, a recess 62 being provided for such purpose, and secured tol said lower end of the piston 48 by atransversely extending pin 63. The lower end of the member 6l is formed with a head 63a which engages the cap when the piston 48 is forced downwardly due to the application of motive fluid. The member 61 not only performs the function just referred to but further constitutes a means for coupling certain elements of the crimping die with the piston 48 whlch will be presently referred to.

The crimping die comprises a pressure exerting member 64, a carrier'65 and an an; nularly arranged series of crimpingelements 66, each of which is formed with a circular off-set 67 .ulcrumed in an annular socket 68 formed in the lower face of the carrier 65.' Eachof the crimping elements 66 is independent of the other and capable of Swingin inwardly and outwardly and provided wlth a fiat edge 68 adapted to be engaged by the rounded ed e 69 of the member 64 when the piston 4 is moved downwardly, whereby the crimping elements 66 are actuated to crim a ca bottle neck. Each o the e ements 66 is around the formed with a crimping edge 70. To limit the swinging inwardly of the elements 66 when in an inoperative position, the carrier 65 is provided with an extension 71. The carrier 65 is secured in position between the head 63a of the member 61 and the lower end of the piston 48 and for such purpose the carriery 65' is formed with a centrally disposed opening through which extends the member 61, the head 63a abutting against the lower face of the extension 71 of the carrier 65. The pressure exerting member 64 is formed integral with the lower end of the piston 47 and incloses the carrier- 65. The form of crimping die illustrated is that as disclosed in my co-pending application Serial No. 520,086, filed Sept. 29, 1909.

'The machine further embodies a fluid pressure operated trip mechanism for releasing the lever42 so that the spring 44 willbe released whereby the valve 38 will be automatically shifted to deflect the passage of the incoming motive fluid. The luld pressure operated trip mechanism comprises a cylinder 72 having a depending screwthreaded nipple 73 which is secured in the recess 25, the nipple 73 being hollow and `opening into the port 24, themportion 26 of the wall of the port 24a limiting the inward movement of the nipple 73. The cylinder 72 is closed by a cap-74. Abutting against the bottom of the casing 72 is a valve 7 5 provided 4with a stem 76 which projects through the cap 74 and the said projecting end is bifurcated as at 77. `interposed between the cap 74 and t-he upper face of the valve 75 and surrounding the stem 76 isa coil compression spriug`7 8, the function ofwhich is to normally maintain the valve 75 against the bottom of the casing 72 so as to close the port 79 through the nipple 73. The bifurcated end 77 of the stem 76 has mounted therein the right-angular extension 80 of a trigger 81, the latter being pivoted as at 82 to an arm 83 projecting laterally from the cylinder 72. The trigger 81 is formed with an upwardly extending arm 84 which when the trigger is in normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, is arranged in the path of the nose 43 of the lever 42, whereby said nose will engage said arm 84 and maintain the lever 42 in the position shown in Fig.` 1 until the arm 84 is shifted from the path of the nose 43 so that the 4action of the spring 44 can shift the valve stem 41 and turn the valve 38 within the casing 29 so as to change the direction ofthe course of the incoming motive fluid. When the lever 42 is in position'as shown in Fig. 1, the port 40 of the valve 38 establishes connnunication between the motive fluid supply pipe 32 and the passage-37 and the passage 39 of the valve 38 establishes communication between the conducting pipe 33 and the outlet 3l. If the arm 84 is shiftedrom the path of the nose 43 of the lever 42, the spring 44 then comes into play and shifts the valve 38 so that the passage 40 will establish communication between t-he motive fluid supply pipe 32 and the conducting pipe 33 and the passage 39 of the valve 38 will establish communication between the outlet 31 and the passage 37.

The operation of the machine is as follows: It will be assumed that the parts are in the position as shown in Fig. 1. The motive fluid being supplied through the passages 40 and 37 and port 24 into the upper end of the cylinder 6, the motive fluid impacting against the surface 57 moves the piston 48 downwardly (prior to the movement of the piston 48 the cap is positioned in the throat formed by the annular arrangement. of the crimping elements), which carries t-he crimping die and cap therewith until the cap engages over the mouth of the bottle, thel motive fluid exerting pressure upon the piston 48 so that the head 63a will hold the cap down securely on the neck of the bottle. The piston 48 when the face 58 of the portion 55 engages the shoulder 53 moves the piston 47 therewith, the cap being held securely upon the bottle neck, the piston 47 continues its movement, carrying the pressure exerting member 64 therewith, the latter engaging the crimping elements 66, actuating said elements, which crimp the cap around the bottle neck. The pistons 47, 48 temporarily remaining in the piston stated until the pressure in the upper end of the cylinder overcomes the spring 7 8 whereby the valve 75 will be shifted upwardly carrying the valve stem 76 therewith, causing thereby the 'rocking of the trigger 81 on its pivot 82 so as to shift the arm 84 from below the nose 43. The releasing of the nose 43 allows of the springv 44 to come into action, the latter shifting the valve 38 so that the passage 39 will estab lish communication between-the motive fluid supply pipe and the conducting pipe 33 and the pamage 40 will establish communication between the passage 37 and the outlet 31. When the valve 38 has been shifted to the position just stated, the motive fluid will be conducted by the pipe 33 into the lower end of the cylinder and impact against the surfaces 59 and 60, elevating the piston 47 to relieve the pressure upon t-he crimping elements, piston 47 then elevates piston 48 removing the crimping die from the cap. The motive fluid in the upper portion of the cylinder 6 exhausts through the outlet 31. Af-

ter another bott-le has been positioned upon the base 3 and a cap inserted in the throat, the operator moves the handle 43 to the position shown in Fig. 1, whereby the valve 38l -is shifted so that the passage 40 establishes communication between the motive fluid supply pipe 32 and the passage 37 and the passage 39 of the valve establishes communication between the conducting pipe 33 'and the exhaust port 31, the incoming motive fluid forces the pistons 47, 48 downwardly land causes an exhaust from the lower end of the cylinder 6 through the conducting pipe 33 and outlet 31. The foregoing operation is continued until the desired number of bottles have been capped.

What I claim is 1. In a fluid pressure o rated bottle capping machine, a pair of uid pressure operated reciprocatory pistons, a crimping die carried by one of said pistons and adapted to be operated by the other of said pistons for crimping a cap on a bottle neck, one of said pistons arranged within the other and with the outer independent of the inner and a fluid pressure operated trip mechanism ada ted when o erated to cause a deflection of t e course o the incoming motive Huid to return the pistons to inoperativeposition and with the inner piston shifted by the outer piston.

2. A bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a pair of pistons arranged therein and extendin therefrom and provided with motive llui impact surfaces, and further arranged one within the other, one of said pistons operating in advance of the other when the pistons are shifted in one direction, valvular mea-ns whereby motive fluid is supplied to one end of the cylinder for shifting the pistons in one direction, one of said pistons carryin a cap holding means and the other of sai pistons carrying a cap crim ing die operating means, a cap crimping 1e arranged in operative relation wlth respect to said pistons, and a fluid pressure operated trip mechanism adapted when operated to shift said valvular means whereby the motive fluid will be supplied to the other end of the cylinder for shifting said pistons in the opposite direction. e

3. In a fluid pressure operated bottle capypin machine, a pair of fluid pressurev operate reciprocatory istons a cap crimping die carried by one oi) said pistons and adapted to be operated bythe other of said pis*- medica die carried by one of said pistons and adapted to be operated by the other of said pistons for crimping -a cap on a bottle' neck, a iiuid ressure, operated means for changing thedirection of iow of motive iiuid for returning the pistons to Vinoperative position, and means for regulating the application of pressure to said piston.

` 5. ln a iiuid pressure operated bottle cappin machine, a pair of fluid pressure operate reciprocatory pistons, a cap crimping die carried by one of said pistons and adapted to be operated by the'other of said pistons for crimping a cap on a bottle neck, a

:duid ressure operated means for changing the direction of fiowbf the motive fluid for returning the pistons to inoperative position, means for providing a fluid cushion for the pistons when moving in one direction, and meansfor providing` a duid cushion when the pistons are moving in the opposite direction. l

6. in a iiuid pressure operated bottle cappin machine, a pair of iiuid pressure operate reciprocatory pistons, a cap crimping die carried by one of saidpistons and adapted to be operated by the other of said pistons for crimping a cap on a .bottle neck, a fluid pressure operated means for changing the direction of flow of the motive tluid for returning the pistons to inoperative position,

means for providing a fluid cushion for the istons when moving 1n one direction, means or providing a iiuid cushion when the-pistons are moving in the o posite direction, and means for regulating the application of pressure to said pistons.

7. A iiuid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory cap crimping die carrying element, operating within and projecting beyond said c linder, means whereby motive Huid is supp ied to said cylinder for operating said elements in one direction, and means actuated on the rise of pressure within the cylinder for automatically changing the course of the fluid supplied to the cylinder for directing the fluid against one of said elements for operating them in the opposite direction. f

8. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a rep ciprocatory cap crimping die carrying element, a reciprocatory ca crimping die operating element, said e ements operating within and projecting from said cylinder, means whereby motive fluid is supplied to said cylinder for operating said elements in one direction, means actuated on the rise of ressure within the cylinder for automatlcally changing the,v course of the fluid supplied to the cylinder for directing the uid against one of said elements for operating them in the opposite direction, and

means whereby the elements are operated in unison when the course of the duid is changed. Y

9. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory cap crimping die carrying element, a reciprocatory cap crimping die operating element, said elements operating within and projecting from said cylinder, means whereby motive fluid is supplied to said cylinder tor operating said elements in one direction, means actuated on the rise ot pressure within the cylinder for automatically changing the course of the fluid supplied to the cylinder for directing the fluid against one of said elements for operating them in the opposite direction, and means within the cylinder :tor providing a uid cushion when the elements are operating in the opposite direction.

10. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory cap crimping die carrying element, a reciprocatory cap crimping die operating element, said elements operating within andprojecting from said cylinder, means whereby motive fluid is supplied to said cylinder for operating said elements in one direction, means actuated on the rise of pressure within the cylinder for automatically changing the course of thefluid supplied to the cyiinder for operating them in the oppopite direction, means whereby the elements are operated in unison when the course of the fluid is changed, means within the cylinder for providing a Huid cushion for the elements when operating in one direction, and meanswithin the cylinder for providing a fluid cushion when .the elements are operating in the opposite direction.

11. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory cap -crimping die carrying element, a reciprocatory cap crimping die Aoperatin` element, one of said elements a1'- range within the other, means Jfor supplying fluidl pressure to each end of the cylinder, each of said elements provided with means whereby on a supply of motive fluid to one end ofthe cylinder, said. inner elementis moved outwardly in unison with the outer element until the inner element is arrested. by-the bottle neck to osition the cap, means whereby said outer element after the arresting of the inner element is moved independently of the inner element to crimp the cap, and means whereby on a supply of fluid to the other end of the cylinder, said outer element will be shifted inwardly in advance ot and then in unison with the inner element to clearv the cap to allow the removal of the bottle.

12. A iuid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a reciprocatory cap crimping die carrying lltlll mit El. 3d

element, al reciprocatory cap crimping die operating element, one of said elements arranged within the other, means for supplying fluid pressure to each end of the cylinder, each of' said elements provided with means whereby on a supply of motive fluid to one end ot' the cylinder said inner element is moved outwardly in unison with the outer element until the inner element is arrested by the bottle neck to position the cap, means whereby said outer element after the arresting of' the inner element is moved independently of the inner element to crimp the cap, means whereby on a supply of fluid to the other end of' the cylinder, said outer element will be shifted inwardly in advance of and then in unison with the inner element to clear the cap to allow the removal of' the bottle, means Within t-he cylinder to provide a fluid cushion for the movement of said elements in one direction, and means within the cylinder for providing a fluid cushion for the movement of the elements in the opposite direction.

13. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a piston 48 arranged therein and projecting therefrom and having its inner portion formed of tivo different diameters, a piston 47 surrounding said piston 48 and having a cup-shaped inner end inclosing the inner portion of said piston 48 and of a diameter to snugly engage the inner face of the cylinder, said cup-shaped portion of the piston 47 provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the enlarged inner portion of the piston 48, a cap crimping die carried by the piston 48, a cap crimping die operating means carried by the piston 47 and adapted to engage the die carried bythe piston 48 for crimping the cap around the bottle neck, and means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder for reciprocating said pistons.

14. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a piston 48 arranged therein and projecting therefrom and having its inner portion formed of two different diameters, a piston 47 surrounding said piston 48 and having a cup-shaped inner end inclosin the inner portion of said piston 48 and o a diameter to snugly engage the inner face of the cylinder, said cup-shaped portion of the piston 47 provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the enlarged inner portion of the piston 48, a cap crimping die carried by the piston 48, a ca crimping die operating means carried by t e piston 47 and adapted to engage the die carried by the piston 48 for crimping the cap around the bottleneck, means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder for operating the pistons in one direction, means actuated on the rise of pressure Within the cylinder for automatically changing the course of the fluid supplied to the cylinder to operate the pistons in the opposite direction, and means whereby the pistons are operated in lunison when the course of the fluid is changed.

15. A fluid pressure operated bottle ca ping machine comprising a cylinder, a piston 48 arranged therein and projecting therefrom and having its inner portion formed of tivo diilerent diameters, a piston 47 surrounding said piston 48 and having a cup-shaped inner end inclosino' the inner portion of said piston 48 of a diameter to snugly engage the inner face of the cylinder, said cup-shaped portion of thc piston 4.7 provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the enlarged inner portion of the piston 48, a cap crimpingl die carried by the piston 48, a cap crimping die operating means carried by the piston 47 and adapted to engage'the die carried by thepiston 48 for crimping the cap around the bottle neck, means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder for operating the pistons in one direction, means actuated on the rise of presiure Within the cylinder for automaticallj changing the course of the fluid supplied to the cylinder to operate the pistons in the opposite direction, means whereby the pistons are operated in unison when the course of the fluid is changed, means within the cylinder for providing a fluid cushion when the pistons are moving in one direction, and

means Within the cylinder for providing a fluid cushion when the pistons are moving in the opposite direction.

16. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a cylinder, a -piston 48 arranged therein and projecting therefrom and having its inner portion formed of two different diameters, a piston 47 surrounding said piston 48 and having a cup-shaped inner end inclosing the inner portion of said piston 48 of a diameter to snugly engage the inner face of the cylinder, said cup-shaped portion of the piston 47 provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged by the enlarged inner portion of the piston 48, a cap crimping die carried by the piston 48, a cap crimping die operating means carried by the piston 47 and adapted toengage the die carried by the piston48 for crimping the cap around the bottle neck, means for supplying fluid pressure to said cylinder for reciprocating said pistons, and means mounted upon the cylinder whereby when the istons are moving in one direction, the uidwill be, exhausted from one end of the cylinder and when moving in the opposite direction, the fluid will be exhausted from the other end of the cylinder.

.17. A fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine comprising a, cylinder, a reciprocatory cap crimping die carrying element, a reciprocatory cap crimping die-opping erating element, one of said elements arranged within the other, means for supplying Huid pressure to each end of the cylinder, each of said elements provided with means whereby on a supply of motive fluid to one end of the cylinder, said inner element is moved outwardly in unison with the outer element until the-inner element is arrested by the bottle neck to position the cap', means whereby said outer element after the arresting of the inner element is moved independently of the inner element to crimp the cap, means whereby on a supply of fluid to `the other end of the cylinder, said outer element will be shifted inwardly in advance of and then in unison with the inner element to clear the cap to allow the removal of the bottle, and means for regulating the application of pressure to said piston.

18. In a iiuid pressure operated bottle capping machine, a cylinder, a pair of fluid -pressure reciprocatory pistons operating therein and projecting therefrom, a cap lcrimping die carried by one of said pistons and adapted to be operated by the other of said pistons for crimping a cap on a bottle neck, a valve mechanism mounted upon said cylinder for alternately establishing communication between each end of the cylinder and a motive iuid supply whereby motive liuid is alternately supplied to each end of the cylinder for reciprocating the pistons, and means mounted upon and communicating with the cylinder and actuated on the rise of pressure within the cylinder at one end thereof to shift the said valve mechanism -whereby the direction of flow of the fluid supplied tothe cylinder will be changed.

19. In a fluid pressure operated bottle capmachine, a cylinder, a pair 0f iuid pressure reciprocatory pistons operating therein and projecting therefrom, a cap crimping die carried by one of said pistons and adapted to be operated by the other of said pistons for crimping a cap on a bottle neck, a valve mechanism mounted upon said cylinder for alternately establishing communication between each end of the cylinder and a motive Huid supply whereby motive fluid is alternately supplied to each end of the cylinder for reciprocating the pistons, means mounted upon and communicating with'the cylinder and actuated on the rise of pressure within the cylinder at one end thereof to shift the said valve mechanism whereby the direction of iiow of the iuid supplied to the cylinder `will be changed, and means for regulating the supply of motive fluid to said cylinder.

20. In a fluid pressure operated bottle capping machine, a cylinder, a pair of fluid pressure operated reciprocatory pistons operating therein and projecting therefrom, a cap crimping die carried by one of said pistons and adapted to be operated by the other of said pistons for crimping a cap on a bottle neck, a valve mechanism mounted upon said cylinder for alternately establishing communication between each end of the cylinder and a motive fluid suppl whereby motive fluid is alternately supplied to each end of the cylinder for reciprocating the pistons, means mounted upon and communicating with the cylinder and actuated on the rise of pressure within the cylinder at one end thereof to shift the-said valve mechanism whereby the direction of flow of the fluid supplied to the cylinder will be'changed, means for regulating the application of pressure to said piston, means within the cylinder atone end thereof to provide a fluid cushion for the movement of the pistons in one direction, and means within the cylinder at the other end thereof for providing a fiuid cushion for the pistons when moving in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROSS V. CRAGGS. 

